Make Me Lose by Ember Leigh is a delicious enemies to lovers with a dash of second chance romance. Gray and Hazel have been competitive since birth and along the lines, competition became serious disdain! Now they are adults and Grayson hasn't lived in Bayshore for years. Hazel thinks that is GREAT and when he waltzes into her office asking for her help, she is not pleased to see him in her town.
Gray's feelings about his small town home resonated with me because I so get it. I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everything. You feel stifled and can't wait to leave. However, the adult me understands Hazel's feelings. Their tiny town is pretty great and they were so lucky to live there. As a teen, you can't see those things. The town plays a really important role in Make Me Lose and Ember Leigh does a good job of expressing why Gray and Hazel feel the way they do. And once the reason for their high school break up is revealed, its SO SMALL TOWN! Seriously, its exactly what happens in small towns with small high schools and small people.
The angst in Make Me Lose is pretty clear from the beginning: Gray lives in NYC and Hazel lives in Bayshore. Once they get past their hatred and discover its love, its not smooth sailing at all. Gray was a bit hard headed, but I get it. He had the life he had always wanted; why would he ever give that up and move home. Hazel has a life she never thought she wanted, but loves more than anything now. He won't leave his job and Hazel won't abandon her business. I enjoyed Make Me Lose by Ember Leigh despite the angst (y'all know its not my thing) because the angst isn't manufactured; its real life and real life is hard and ugly and unpleasant at times. If you like a hate to love to hate to love story, Make Me Lose is a solid pick for a quick weekend binge! I am curious to get the other Daly brothers' stories now as well.
- POV: dual 1st
- Tears: no
- Trope: enemies to lovers, small town
- Triggers: none
- Series/Standalone: stand alone
- Cliffhanger: no
- HEA: yes, with epilogue
Hot Asset by Lauren Layne, Ignite by Karen Erickson, Sweet Rivalry by K. Bromberg...then you will probably like Make Me Lose!
See full review on The Book Disciple